Transcript for Classics from the Vault: Women in Danger (1980)

AND I'M IGNATIY VISHNEVETSKY OF MUBI.COM. WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO THE VAULT FOR SOME SPECIAL EPISODES OF THE ORIGINAL SNEAK PREVIEWS. HERE'S SISKEL AND EBERT FROM 1980.

>> RUN IF YOU MUST.

>> HELLO, OPERATOR.

>> HIDE IF YOU CAN.

SCREAM IF YOU ARE ABLE, BUT ABOVE ALL, IF YOU ARE ALONE... [ TELEPHONE RINGING ]

DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE.

DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE!

RATED R.

[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]

Roger Ebert:

TV COMMERCIALS LIKE THAT, EXPLOITING THE PLIGHT OF WOMEN IN DANGER. THEY HAVE BEEN SATURATING TV FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS AND THE SUMMER AND FALL OF 1980 ARE THE WORST YET. IT'S A DISTURBING NEW TREND AT THE MOVIE BOX OFFICE, ONE WE WILL BE DISCUSSING ON THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF SNEAK PREVIEWS. ACROSS THE HEIL FROM ME IS GENE SISKEL OF THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE."

Gene Siskel:

AND THIS IS ROGER EBERT OF THE "CHICAGO SUNTIMES." WE WILL LOOK AT A GROUP OF RECENT FILMS THAT HAVE UGLY THEMES IN COLUMN. THEY ARE THRILLERS FEATURES EXTREME VIOLENCE DIRECTED AT YOUNG WOMEN. TO PUT IT BLUNTLY, WHAT YOU SEE IN MOST OF THESE YOUNG FILMS IS YOUNG GIRLS BEING RAPED OR STABBED TO DEATH, USUALLY BOTH. THIS IS A DEPRESSING DEVELOPMENT IN AMERICAN MOVIES. WE WILL EXAMINE THE NATURE OF THIS TREND AND SPECULATE ON WHY WE ARE GETTING SO MANY OF THESE FILMS AND GETTING THEM NOW. A LOT OF MOVIE GOERS, ADULTS AND TEENAGERS SEE THESE R RATED FILMS AND THEY ASSUME THEY WILL SEE A BUNCH OF ROUTINE SCARY PICTURES BUT OFTENTIMES THEY ARE REALLY SHOCKED HOW AWFUL THESE FILMS ARE. AS WE EXPLORE THIS TREND, WE WILL NOT BE SHOWING YOU EXTREME VIOLENCE IN THESE MOVIES. WE PICKED THEMES THAT ONLY SUGGEST THE VIOLENCE. WE WANT TO INFORM YOU NOT OFFEND YOU.

Roger Ebert:

IT'S JUST AS WELL WE ARE NOT SEEING SOME OF THOSE FILMS. I THINK PEOPLE WOULD TURN THEIR SETS OFF.

Gene Siskel:

YES.

Roger Ebert:

TO BEGIN WITH, ONE OF THE SOCALLED WOMEN IN DANGER FILMS HAVE IN COMMON, THEY PORTRAY WOMEN AS HELPLESS WOMEN. AS YOU SET THROUGH HALF A DOZEN OF THESE FILMS AS GENE AND I HAVE HAD TO, THEY FALL INTO THE SAME PATTERN. A WOMAN OR YOUNG GIRL IS SHOWN ALONE AND ISOLATED AND DEFENSELESS AND THE SUSPENSE FILLED SCENES AND THEN WHEN YOU THINK EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY AND NOTHING WILL HAPPEN, A CRAZY KILLER SPRINGS OUT OF THE SHADOWS AND ATTACKS HER AND FREQUENTLY THE KILLER SADISTICALLY THREATENS THE VICTIM BEFORE HE STRIKES. THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING FROM LAST YEAR'S SLEAZY MOVIE "WHEN A STRANGER CALLS" WHICH HAS BEEN RERELEASED BECAUSE OF THE RECENT UPSURGE OF THE POPULARITY OF THESE MOVIES AFTER TACKS ON WOMEN. THE WOMAN HAS BEEN TOLD TO KEEP THE CALLER ON THE LINE THAT HAS BEEN THREATENING HER UNTIL THE POLICE CAN TRACE THE CALL.

[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]

>> HELLO?

>> IT'S ME.

>> I KNOW.

WHO ARE YOU?

I'M NOT GOING TO BE HERE MUCH LONGER.

I'M COMING HOME.

>> I KNOW.

>> CAN YOU SEE ME?

>> YES.

>> TAKE ME HOME, OR MAYBE EVEN THE POLICE.

>> YOU CALLED THE POLICE?

>> I WANT TO TALK TO YOU.

[ DIAL TONE ]

TELEPHONE RINGING ]

>> LEAVE ME ALONE.

>> JILL, LISTEN TO ME.

WE TRACED THE CALL.

IT'S COMING FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE.

JUST GET OUT OF THAT HOUSE.

Roger Ebert:

THAT BASIC SCENE HAS PROVIDED THE PREMISE FOR AT LEAST A DOZEN FILMS IN THE LAST YEAR. IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME, THE GIRL IS AT HOME ALONE. THE MENACING ATTACKER, THE RINGING TELEPHONE, THE WIDE, FRIGHTENED EYES. I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG WHEN AN IMAGE LIKE THAT BECOMES THE BUILDING BLOCK OF AN ENTIRE MOVIE GENRE.

Gene Siskel:

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT THE BATTLE HAS BEEN WON THAT THERE ARE STRONG WOMEN IMAGES IN THE FILM AND JILL CLAYBURGH IN "UNMARRIED WOMAN" AND FONDA AND CLAYBURGH MAYBE ONE FILM A YEAR. AND THESE FILMS COME OUT WEEK AFTER WEEK AND THE DOMINANT FILMS IS NOT FONDA AND CLAYBURGH IT'S WOMEN LIKE THAT COWERING IN THE CORNER, KNIVES BEING BRANDISHED IN THEIR FACES, BEING RAPED AND BEING SLICED APART. THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON IN AMERICAN MOVIES. THAT'S WHY WE ARE DOING THE SHOW.

Roger Ebert:

I THINK PEOPLE IDENTIFY THESE FILMS WITH EARLIER THRILLERS LIKE PSYCHO OR MORE RECENT FILMS LIKE HALLOWEEN. THESE FILMS ARE NOT IN THE SAME CATEGORY. THESE FILM HATE WOMEN AND UNFORTUNATELY THE AUDIENCES THAT GO TO THEM DON'T SEEM TO LIKE WOMEN TOO MUCH EITHER. WE GO TO SEE THESE FILMS IN MOVIE THEATERS. THESE ARE NOT THE KIND OF MOVIES WHERE THEY HAVE NICE PRIVATE LITTLE SCREENINGS FOR THE CRITICS AND TO BE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE CHEERING THE VILLAIN ON IS A SCARY EXPERIENCE.

Gene Siskel:

THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF THE KILLER AND REALLY AGAINST THE WOMEN COWERING BACK. I DON'T THINK WE CAN STRESS THIS TOO STRONGLY THAT WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST A COUPLE OF FILMS. IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE GETTING NEW ONES OF THESE TYPES OF FILMS EVERY OTHER WEEK. THAT AMOUNTS TO A MAJOR MOVIE TREND. HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES. THERE'S PROM NIGHT WITH TEENAGED GIRLS BEING SLAUGHTERED AT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL PROM. THE AD CAMPAIGN IS, IF YOU ARE NOT BACK BY MIDNIGHT, YOU WON'T BE COMING HOME. THERE'S DON'T GO IN THE HOUSE. A GUY WHO WAS TORTURED BY HIS MOTHER BURNS THREE WOMEN TO DEATH, AND THE SELL LINE HERE IS YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. AND THERE'S THE HOWLING, A NEW MOVIE ABOUT A WOMAN WHO GOES ALONE ON A VACATION AND IS TORTURED BY THE LOCALS. THE COME ON LINE HERE IS IMAGINE YOUR WORST FEAR A REALITY. AND THERE'S TERROR TRAIN IN WHICH SIX COLLEGE STUDENTS AT A MASQUERADE PARTY ON A TRAIN ARE STALKED BY A PSYCHO PATH AND THERE'S THE BOOGEYMAN. A SUPERNATURAL KILLER HAUNTS A HOUSE. HERE'S ONE OF THE ADS FOR THE BOOGEYMAN.

>> YOU CAN'T HIDE FROM HIM.

[ CRYING ]

>> BY THE TIME YOU BELIEVE IN HIM, IT WILL BE TOO LATE.

THE BOOGEYMAN, HE WILL GET YOU.

Gene Siskel:

AND WE ARE OUT TO GET HIM BEFORE HE GETS YOU AND YOUR $4. THESE ARE THE MOVIES WE ARE GETTING. IT'S RELENTLESS. EVERY FILM COMPANY SEEMS TO BE MAKING ONE OF THESE MOVIES OR DISTRIBUTING ONE. IN ADDITION TO THE FILMS WE ALREADY MENTIONED THIS SEASON, WE ALSO HAVE "HE KNOWS YOU ARE ALONE," MOTEL HELL, PHOBIA, MOTHER'S DAY, SCHIZOID, SILENT SCREAM AND I SPIT ON YOUR GAVE, WHICH IS EASILY THE I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE, WHICH IS EASILY THE WORST OF THIS BUNCH.

Roger Ebert:

THEY SEE THE R RATING AND THEY THINK, R, THAT MEANS IF YOU ARE UNDER 17, YOU HAVE TO TAKE ALONG A PARENT OR A GUARDIAN, AND IT CAN'T BE THAT BAD. MAYBE THEY SAW THE BLUE LAGOON OR THE BLUES BROTHERS AND THEY SAY, WELL, THAT'S NOT SO BAD. THEY HAVE NO IDEA. I AGREE WITH YOU, ABOUT I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE. THAT'S THE MOST VIOLENT, EXTREME, GROTESQUE, NAUSEATING R RATED FILM I HAVE EVER SEEN. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE R RATING HAS GROWN SO LARGE TO INCLUDE THAT MOVIE.

Gene Siskel:

WHAT IS HAPPENING, THE GOUGINGS, AGAIN TO MAKE THE POINT ARE TAKING PLACE AND THEY ARE BASICALLY, BASICALLY WOMEN THAT ARE BEING GOUGED. I THINK AT THIS POINT SOMEBODY IS PROBABLY WONDERING WHY. WHY? WHY NOW? WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? I THINK IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS I HAVE BEEN SEEING THESE PICTURES, I'M CONVINCED IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE GROWTH OF THE WOMAN'S MOVEMENT IN AMERICA IN THE LAST DECADE. I THINK THAT THESE FILMS ARE SOME SORT OF PRIMORDIAL RESPONSE BY SOME VERY SICK PEOPLE OF MEN SAYING GET BACK IN YOUR PLACE, WOMEN.

Roger Ebert:

I THINK YOU ARE BASICALLY RIGHT, GENE. YOU KNOW, AFTER YOU SET THROUGH HOUR AFTER HOUR OF THIS COMPLETE TRASH, YOU BEGIN TO ASK YOURSELF, WHAT DID THESE FEMALE VICTIMS DO TO DESERVE THE HORRIBLE ATTACKS THEY UNDERGO IN THESE FILMS? WHAT WAS THEIR CRIME? WHY IS IT SUDDENLY OPEN SEASON ON YOUNG WOMEN IN THE MOVIES? ONE THING THAT MOST OF THE VICTIMS DO HAVE IN COMMON IS THEY DO ACT INDEPENDENTLY. I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT ONE POINT. THEY ARE LIBERATED WOMEN WHO ACT ON THEIR OWN. WHEN A WOMAN MAKES A DECISION FOR HERSELF, YOU CAN ALMOST BET SHE WILL PAY WITH HER LIFE, AND HERE'S A SCENE FROM "THE SILENT SCREAM" WHERE SHE'S LOOKING FOR OFF CAMPUS HOUSING.

>> I'M NOT A VIOLENT PERSON BY NATURE.

IF THERE'S A ROOM HERE, I'M READY TO FIGHT FOR IT.

>> WHY FIGHT?

WE CAN SHARE IT.

>> SHE GETS A ROOM, BEATEN, GAGGED AND ATTACKED WITH A KNIFE.

[ WHIMPERING ]

Roger Ebert:

AND IN MOVIE "FRIDAY THE 13th" AND INDEPENDENT CAMP COUNSELOR GETS A RIDE WITH THE WRONG DRIVER.

>> HI.

I'M GOING TO THE LAKE.

I GUESS I ALWAYS WANT SISTERS.

I HATE WHEN PEOPLE CALL THEM KIDS.

IT SOUNDS LIKE GOATS.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A DREAM AS LONG AS I HAD, YOU WILL DO ANYTHING.

HEY, WASN'T THAT THE ROAD FOR CAMP CRYSTAL LAKE BACK THERE?

I THINK WE BETTER STOP.

PLEASE.

PLEASE.

PLEASE STOP!

PLEASE!

PLEASE STOP!

Roger Ebert:

NOW THAT SCENE DEMONSTRATES A VERY COMMON AND PROBABLY VERY SIGNIFICANT TECHNIQUE THAT'S USED AGAIN AND AGAIN IN THESE FILMS. WE VIEW A SCENE THROUGH THE EYES OF THE KILLER. YOU NEVER SAW THE DRIVER IN THAT LAST SCENE. INSTEAD, YOU SAW EVERYTHING THROUGH THE DRIVER'S EYES. NOW, IN THE TRADITIONAL HORROR MOVIE, WE OFTEN SAW THINGS FROM THE VICTIM'S POINT OF VIEW, BUT THAT'S NO LONGER. NOW WE LOOK THROUGH THE KILLER'S EYES. IT'S ALMOST AS IF THE AUDIENCE IS BEING ASKED TO IDENTIFY WITH THE ATTACKERS IN THESE MOVIES AND THAT REALLY BOTHERS ME.

Gene Siskel:

THAT'S A GOOD POINT. THE BEHAVIOR THAT THESE WOMEN ARE ENGAGING IN, IF DONE BY MEN WOULD BE BRAVE, BOLD AND FUN, HITCHHIKING LIKE IN "EASY RIDER." A WOMAN TRIES TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THESE FILMS, WHAMO, THEY GET SLICED UP. WHENEVER WE SEE A MOVIE TREND, I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON. I THINK I TALKED ABOUT THIS IS A CONVALESCED DREAM THAT THE PEOPLE MAY BE FEELING AND THE FILMMAKER HITS ON. THEY TALKED ABOUT EVERYBODY BEING AFRAID THAT SOMETHING BAD MIGHT HAPPEN TO THE WORLD, A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION. I THINK THEY ARE PICKING UP THAT MEN ARE ANGRY WITH WOMEN AND THEY ARE PANDERING, EXCITING, INFLAMING MEN. VERY BAD.

Roger Ebert:

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CONVALESCED DREAMS. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE URGES OR FEARS THAT THEY DON'T ARTICULATE THEMSELVES AND SOMETIMES A MOVIE COMES ALONG THAT STRIKES THAT CHORD. WHEN "AIRPORT" CAME OUT IN 1970, NOBODY KNEW THAT WAS GOING TO BE THE FIRST OF COUNTLESS, UMPTEEN DOZEN DISASTER MOVIES BUT IT SPOKE TO PEOPLE THAT MADE THEM INITIATE IT. I THE FIRST MOVIE IN THESE WOMEN IN DANGER FILMS WAS HALLOWEEN, WHICH WE WILL GET TO HALLOWEEN IN JUST A MOMENT. I THINK IT'S A PRETTY GOOD PICTURE BUT IT CAPTURED AN ENORMOUS AUDIENCE. IT DID MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN BUSINESS AND THEN THE SLEAZE MERCHANTS LOOKED AT THAT MOVIE AND TRIED TO PUT THEIR FINGER ON WHAT IT WAS THAT MADE IT SO SUCCESSFUL. WOMEN BEING CHASED BY A KILLER.

Gene Siskel:

THAT'S WHY THEY CALL THEMSELVES EXPLOITATIONS, THESE ROTTEN ONES BECAUSE THEY EXPLOIT ONE ELEMENT AND MAKE IT SICK. AND MANY OF THESE ATTACKS TAKE ON WOMEN WHO ARE SCANTILY CLAD. I THINK THAT THE INTENT IS TO EXPLOIT THE SEX ANGLE IN THESE PICTURES. THE NUDITY IS ALWAYS GRATUITOUS. IT PUT IN TO TITILLATE THE AUDIENCE AND WOMEN WHO DRESS THIS WAY OR MERELY UNCOVER THEIR BODIES ARE SOMEHOW ASKING FOR TROUBLE AND SOMEHOW DESERVE THE TROUBLE THAT THEY GET, THAT'S A SICK IDEA. HERE'S AN INNOCENT SUN BATHER IN "I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE." WATCH WHAT HAPPENS TO HER.

[ SHOUTS ]

Gene Siskel:

AND IN FRIDAY THE 13th WE WATCH AS A YOUNG WOMAN PRIMPS PROVOCATIVELY IN A BATHROOM MIRROR AS SHE'S STALKED BY A HATCHET KILLER. IT'S A FILM SAYING ACT THIS WAY YOUNG WOMEN AND YOU ARE ASKING FOR TROUBLE.

>> HELLO?

>> NED?

COME ON.

>> TRUST ME.

Gene Siskel:

IN THE PAST YEAR, I MUST HAVE SEEN THAT SCENE 100, 150 TIMES, EVERY MOVIE OF THIS KIND HAS EIGHT OR TEN SCENES JUST LIKE IT. I'M SICK OF THEM. I DREAD GOING TO THESE TYPES OF MOVIE. IT'S THE MOST DEPRESSING PART OF MY JOB AS A FILM CRITIC.

Roger Ebert:

THERE WE ARE IN TOTAL AGREEMENT. WE GO TO SEE THESE MOVIES AND I ALMOST FEEL AS IF I DON'T BELONG IN THE THEATER BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE APPARENTLY WENT TO THE MOVIES LIKE THIS VOLUNTARILY. THEY ARE REACTING AND HAPPY TO BE THERE. I FEEL LIKE AN UNDERCOVER SPY IN THE DARK. I SPENT TO SEE "I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE" AND I WAS SITTING NEXT TO A MAN WHO WAS 50 YEARS OLD WHO WAS TALKING BACK TO THE SCREEN WHO SAYS, SHE REALLY ASKED FOR IT NOW. OR THERE WAS A RAPE SCENE AND HE SAID, THIS SHOULD BE A GOOD ONE. I FELT CREEPY SITTING THERE.

Gene Siskel:

I SAW A LOT OF COUPLES ON DATES. WELL, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SEE THIS FILM AND IMITATE THE BEHAVIOR. SOME PEOPLE MAY, BUT I DON'T KNOW. A MAJORITY OF MIDDLECLASS PEOPLE ARE SEEING THEM. I WORRY ABOUT THIS IDEA WHICH IS WHEN YOU VIEW WOMEN, CONSTANTLY AS SPORT, BEING STABBED, I THINK THAT'S A SORT OF SICK NOTION THAT JUST SORT OF MAKES IT'S DEGRADING. YOU VIEW THEM AS SECOND CLASS, THAT SOMEHOW THIS IS ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR. YOU SAID BEFORE THAT ALL MOVIES TEND TO ARGUE IN FAVOR OF THE BEHAVIOR THAT THEY SHOW. THESE ARE WOMEN AS SPORT TO BE STABBED. I THINK THAT'S A BAD IDEA. THEY OUTLAWED BULLFIGHTING BECAUSE IT WAS CRUEL. I ALMOST HAVE SOME OF THE SAME FEELINGS TOWARDS THESE KINDS OF MOVIES.

Roger Ebert:

IT PUTS SOME BAD IDEAS IN SOCIETY IN THE CONTEXT OF ENTERTAINMENT, YES. YOU KNOW, GENE AND I HAD SOME LONG DISCUSSIONS BEFORE WE DECIDED TO DO THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM ON WOMEN IN DANGER IN THE MOVIES AND FRANKLY, WE WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER ADDITIONAL PUBLICITY FOR THESE MOVIES MIGHT SIMPLY HELP THEM OUT AT THE BOX OFFICE. WE SURE HOPE NOT. OUR INTENTION IS TO SIMPLY REPORT ON THIS TREND AND TO WARN UNSUSPECTING PEOPLE WHO MIGHT GO TO THESE FILMS THINKING THEY ARE MERELY, GOOD OLDFASHIONED HORROR FILMS, THE KIND THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE USED TO ENJOY BECAUSE THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOOD AND SCARY MOVIES AND MOVIES THAT SYSTEMICALLY DEMEAN HALF THE HUMAN RACE. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MOVIES WHICH ARE VIOLENT BUT ENTERTAINING AND MOVIES THAT ARE GRUESOME AND DESPICABLE. THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HORROR MOVIE AND A FREAK SHOW. AND A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT IS THE FACT THAT BOTH OF US GAVE FAVORABLE REVIEWS TO A VERY SCARY 1978 HORROR FILM NAMED "HALLOWEEN" THERE MUST BE PEOPLE ASKING HOW COULD WE PRAISE A MOVIE LIKE THAT AND NOW SAY THESE OTHER MOVIES SORE TERRIBLE. WELL, HERE'S A SCENE FROM "HALLOWEEN" IT HAS THE SAME BASIC SITUATION AS ALL THE WOMEN IN DANGER MOVIES HAVE. THERE'S A WOMAN ALONE IN A BIG HOUSE AND SHE'S BEING CHASED BY A KILLER, BUT LET'S LOOK AT IT FIRST AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES.

>> WE WILL TAKE A LITTLE WALK.

>> WHAT IF IT'S THE BOOGEYMAN.

I'M SCARED.

>> THERE'S NOTHING TO BE SCARED OF.

>> WHY?

>> I KILLED HIM.

>> YOU CAN'T KILL THE BOOGEYMAN.

[ SCREAMING ]

>> LOCK THE DOOR!

¶

Roger Ebert:

OKAY. THAT'S "HALLOWEEN" A HORROR MOVIE WE BOTH THINK IS PRETTY GOOD.

Gene Siskel:

VERY GOOD.

Roger Ebert:

HALLOWEEN IS DIRECTED AND ACTED WITH MORE ARTISTRY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP THAN THE SLEAZE FILMS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. AS YOU WATCH HALLOWEEN, YOUR BASIC SYMPATHIES ARE ENLISTED ON THE SIDE OF THE WOMAN, NOT WITH THE KILLER. THE MOVIE DEVELOPS ITS WOMEN KILLERS AS INDEPENDENT, INTELLIGENT, SPUNKY AND INTERESTING PEOPLE. HALLOWEEN DOES NOT HATE WOMEN.

Gene Siskel:

YOU KNOW WHEN I SAW THAT SCENE, I MUST ADMIT I WASN'T WORRYING AS MUCH ABOUT THE WOMAN, BUT I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT KILLER AND HOW I WOULD HANDLE. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT HALLOWEEN NOT ONLY HATES WOMEN BUT IT LOVES FILM AND FILMMAKING. THE MUSIC IS FABULOUS, THE WAY HE STARTS ONE THEME AND KEEPING THE OTHER THEME REALLY GOOD. ALSO THE LIGHT COMING THROUGH THE SLATS IN THAT CLOSET. IT'S A FILM THAT'S UP. THAT SCENE IS UP AND YOU ARE JUMPING RATHER THAN GETTING DEPRESSED AND FEELING SORRY AND FEELING SORRY THAT YOU ARE WATCHING.

Roger Ebert:

ARTISTRY CAN REDEEM ANY SUBJECT MATTER. THAT'S WHY I HAVE BEEN OPPOSED TO CENSORSHIP. I DON'T BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE OFF BASE. WHAT DOES THE ARTIST DO WITH IT? HOW DOES HE PUT IT THROUGH HIS ART IN ORDER TO MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT IT OR TO MAKE IT INTO A COMMERCIAL FILM OR A SERIOUS FILM. I BELIEVE IN THE CASE OF THE MOVIE LIKE HALLOWEEN, WE CAN ENGAGE IN THAT JOY OF FILMMAKING THAT YOU TALK ABOUT. THAT'S NOT THE CASE WITH THE OTHER FILMS THAT REALLY ADDRESS THEMSELVES TO THE LOWEST POSSIBLE COMMON DENOMINATOR.

Gene Siskel:

THE FILM WE ARE DEALING WITH DO NOT HAVE THE ARTISTRY OF HALLOWEEN. THEY BOIL DOWN TO ONE IMAGE, ONE DISTURBING IMAGE, A WOMAN SCREAMING IN ABJECT TERROR.

[ SCREAMS ]

Gene Siskel:

AS TO WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO ABOUT THESE FILMS, THE TREND IN THE MOVIES THAT WE HAVE BEEN SPOTLIGHTING, I THINK PEOPLE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT THE BOX OFFICE SPEAKS LOUDER THAN JUST TWO FILM CRITICS. IF ONE OF THESE FILMS IS AROUND, IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA THAT IT MIGHT BE AROUND, STAY AWAY.

Roger Ebert:

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT FILMS TO STAY AWAY FROM, USUALLY YOU CAN TELL BY THE ADS, R RATED WITH A KNIFE OR A HATCHET, A GIRL SCREAMING AND SOME GUY IN A HOOD. THESE MOVIES ARE JUNK AND GIVE THEM A PASS.

Gene Siskel:

WE WILL SEE YOU AT THE MOVIES.

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky:

I MEAN I HATE TO DEFEND A FILM THAT ISN'T ALL THAT GOOD. I THINK ROGER IS BEING UNFAIR TO "I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE." IT'S A FILM ABOUT A BRUTAL ACT.

Christy Lemire:

BUT HE'S APPALLED BY THE ORIGINAL, AND "LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT" WHERE THEY LANGUISH OVER AND FETISHIZE THE RAPE IT'S NOT JUST ALLUDED TO. THEY SPEND TIME WITH IT NEEDLESSLY AND THERE'S THE WHOLE TREND OF MOVIES LIKE "HIGH TENSION" WHERE THE WOMAN IS A VICTIM IN THE BEGINNING BUT SHE GETS HER REVENGE IN BLOODY, GORY WAYS.

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky:

MANY OF THESE FILMS WHERE WOMEN ARE QUOTE/UNQUOTE VICTIMIZED OR PUT IN DANGER ARE WHERE WOMEN TRIUMPH OVER DANGER. HORROR IS THE ONLY PLACE WHERE YOU CAN FIND A FEMALE PROTAGONIST.

Christy Lemire:

JAMIE THREE CURTIS "THE FINAL GIRL."

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky:

SHE LASTS THROUGH THE ENTIRE FILM WITHOUT GETTING KILLED. JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER LOOK BACK AT SNEAK PREVIEWS. YOU CAN FOLLOW THE DISCUSSION ON FACEBOOK AND ON TWITTER. UNTIL THEN, THE BALCONY IS CLOSED.

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky:

FOR MORE REVIEWS AND MORE FROM ROGER'S OFFICE, VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT EBERTPRESENTS.COM.